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April 26, 1938. ERICKSON ET AL ADJUSTABLE WAIST BAND FOR TROUSERS -FiledFeb. 26, 1957 5 0 Mn N I N M W fl L 77/03 /f. [/f/C/(SON, 19) 77/515 /9tram 15m.

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE WAIST BAND FOR TROUSERSLawrence Erickson and Thora K. Erickson,

' Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 26, 1937, Serial No. 127,909

1 Claim.

This invention relates to trousers constructions and more particularlyto an improved means for forming the waist band of trousers to permit itto be adjusted.

In practically every type of mens ready made trousers being manufacturedtoday, the waist band is so constructed that it is practicallyimpossible to adapt any certain pair of trousers for use either with abelt or with a pair of suspenders. People who desire low waistedtrousers for use with a belt are often dissatisfied with the way theirclothes are fitted, and by the same token, people who prefer highwaisted trousers for use with suspenders frequently have a difliculttime securing just what they desire. This is due to the fact thatmanufacturers of ready made clothing attempt to strike a happy mediumand consequently many purchasers are dissatisfied with the result.

It is impractical and expensive to attempt to alter ready made trousersto meet the particular desire of the individual customer because of themanner in which the trousers are customarily made.

This invention, however, overcomes the dimculties encountered andprovides a trousers construction which has long been sought for in theindustry i. e., a trousers waist band construction wherein the waistband itself may be quickly and 30 easily adjusted vertically to provideeither high waisted or low waisted trousers.

I have also provided a construction which, while embodying thisdesirable feature, does not in any way alter the general appearance ofthe trousers and provides a construction wherein there is no undueamount of bunching of material because of the altered design.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be morefully set forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Fig. l is a fragmentary view of one side of a pair of. trousers, showingthe general appearance of my construction, and

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in more detail, the body portion 3 of thetrousers has its upper edge folded over as at 4. Within this foldedportion of the body of the trousers is inserted the top edge of thecustomary side pocket 5. This pocket is provided with an opening 6according to custom. The waist band 1 is formed of fabric similar tothat comprising the body of the trousers and is an entirely independentstrip of material and may include a stiffening strip 8 which is bastedor otherwise suitably secured to the waist band and a waist band lining9 which is secured to the top edge of. the waist band by the customaryhidden seam l0. It will be noted that the waist band lies parallel withthe body of the trousers and its lower edge extends down below the upperedge of said trousers body.

A flap I i is provided inside of the lower edge of the waist band andits lining and the top edge of this flap is preferably at substantiallythe same height as the top edge of the trousers body 3. This flap is ofa depth sufficient to conceal the lower edge of the waist bandregardless of the position to which the waist band is adjusted, since inthis construction the lower edges of the waist band and its lining neednot be finished and would present a rather ragged appearance if notconcealed.

As shown in Fig. 2, the waist band is inserted between the inside of thetrousers body and the flap H and these elements together with the pocket5 are secured by a single line of stitching 52 which is preferablyexposed on both the inside and outside of the trousers.

From this construction it can be seen that when an adjustment in theheight of the waist band is desired, it is necessary only to rip out thesingle line of stitching l2, move the waist band vertically either up ordown as desired, and then run another single line of stitching in placeof the ones originally sewn in the trousers. 'Thus it is possible toquickly and easily adjust the waist band of a pair of trousers withoutthe expenditure of a great deal of time or money.- Because of this, thealteration can be made by the retailer at the same time at which thetrousers and remainder of the suit are given the customary slightalterations necessary to fit the clothes to the individual wearer, analteration which has been heretofore impractical because of. the timeand expense involved.

If desired, the watch pocket may be permanently fastened to the upperedge of the body of the trousers so that it will not be disturbed whenadjustments are made.

As shown in Fig. 1 the belt loops may either be sewn in with the line ofstitching as indicated by the loop !3 or the loop may be fashioned asindicated at l4, the latter loop being stitched to the body of thetrousers below the single line of stitching utilized for the waist bandconstruction. The arrangement of the belt loop I4 is combinations ofparts disclosed and defined in the appended claim. 7

What is claimed is: In a trousers construction, a trousers body portionhaving an upper edge folded upon itself,-

a pocket whose upper edge is inserted within said folded upper edge, anadjustable waistband comprising an independent strip of material, thelower edge of which extends downwardly below and parallel to the upperedges of saidbody portion and said pocket, saidstrip having suflicientmaterial to provide for adjustment to greater than normal height, and asingle line of stitching extending throughthe folded edge of said bodyportion, the

upper edge of said pocket, and said waistband; said stitching beingreadily removable to permit vertical adjustment of said Waistbandrelativeto said body portion and pocket. I

LAWRENCE ERICKSON. THORA K. ERICKSON.

